Sectionalized metal chassis for electronic equipment



June 28, 1960 H. w. ROSENBERG SECTIONALIZED METAL CHASSIS FOR ELECTRONICEQUIPMENT Filed March 22, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HAROLD W.ROSENBERG BY Wm ATTORNEYS June 28, 1960 H. w. ROSENBERG 2,942,749

SESTIONALIZED METAL CHASSIS FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT Filed March 22,1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HAROLD W. ROSENBERG /*1. MJA QL 7 AORNEYS The invention described herein may bemanufactured and used by orfor the Governmentof theUnitedStateS of America for governmentalpurposes without the-pay: ment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to knock-down sectionalized re-. ceptacleconstructions and more particularly to such constructions as areutilized in sectionalized metal chassis for electronic equipment.

It has been common, in the past, to provide receptacles of theknock-down type, for many purposes, in order to provide economy of spacein storage and shipment, or to provide the user a choice as to the sizeor natureof-the receptacle he may construct. Similarly, it has beencommon to provide sectionalized receptacles whereby a plurality ofcompartments could be arranged withinthe receptacle, as desired.Receptacles embodying these features have been variously employed formany uses as for example desk drawers, storage and shipping receptacles,etc., and have been made of a-wide variety of materials. Similarly, thepresent invention, while disclosed as made of metal and in conjunctionwith the specific application to electronics equipment chassis utility,is obviously of general applicability in the receptacle arts and may bemade of any suitable material.

Receptacles are often provided with an inwardly directed flange at theopen top thereof for purposes of rigidity, for facilitation ofsecurement of internal pieces, for providing sliding or stackingsurfaces, or or other purposes. Such receptacles, when formed ofknockdown or prefabricated parts, have had the disadvantage that the topsurfaces or flanges thereof have not presented smooth level surfaces, byvirtue of the double thicknesses of material'formed by the jointsbetween the walls. Where sectionalization of such receptacles wasattempted, further disadvantages generally existed in the necessity forthe design of special-configuration for the inner partitions in orderthat proper fit or support could be obtained, and in the fact that thetop surfaces of such partitions were not at the level of the remainderof the receptacles.

The present invention provides means whereby prefabricated pieces whichareeasily stored and shipped in knock-down form, may be utilized to formreceptacles of desirable sizes and in which sectionalization may beachieved by utilization of internal Wall pieces which are identical withthe end wall pieces whereby the variety of pieces is minimized, theentire arrangement being such that the finished receptacle hasa-topflange which is level and smooth. A particularillustrative use of theinvention is in the use of sheet metal pieces, preformed to the desiredshapes, as by bending and cutting, andassembled to form a metallicsectionalized box which may serve as the metal chassis for electronicequipment. In such a usage, the sectionalization' is particularlyimpcrtaut since his oftennecessary in mounting electronic components forspecial applications, electrostatic shielding of elements wherenecessary and in the provision of additional structuralsupportsfor largechassis assembliesl Moreover, the use of a knock-down arrangement tatesPaten-t Patented June 28;, 1960 fpr electronic component support andhousing provides, the further. advantages that the components, as tubesocieets, supports for wiring, etc., may be attachediand'the, wiringconnections made on the flattop plate (which would be the bottom surfaceof a general utility. receptacle) and on the various side walls andcompartmentwalls prior to their assembly, so that such operations, maybe conducted on flat, open surfacesrather than in the crampedconfinement generally present when working in an already assembledchassis receptacle.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provideknock-down sectionalized receptacles in which the assembled receptaclesmay beforrned of a small variety of types of pieces.

A further object of the inventionis to, provide knockdown sectionalizedreceptacles in which the assembled receptacles have inwardly directedflanges at the tops of the sidewalls thereof, said flanges being levelat the tops, thereof to facilitate stacking or sliding ofsuchreceptacles on one another.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, knock-down,metallic chassis for electronic equipment, such chassis beingcharacterized in that internal compart-- ment walls are identical withthe end walls whereby sectionalization may be achieved with a minimum oftypes a of 7 components and whereby chassis maybe selec tively built upto a size and compartmentation desired, from such components.

Another object of this inventionis to provideknockdown metallic elementsfor forming chassis for electronic equipment, whereby the attachment ofelectronic components and the majority ofthe electricalconnec, tions maybe effected on substantiallyfiat pieces prior to assembly of thechassis.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a knock-downcompartmented receptacle wherein the inner walls are identical with theouter walls so thata minimum of types'of parts need be used, in whichthe side and inner walls-of the assembled receptacle are in wardlyflanged at the upper edge, and in which said flanges have a common, flatuppersurface.

These and other objects, and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will be, readily appreciated.

as the same becomes better understood by reference to.

the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspectiveview of areceptacle according to thepresent invention, showing the component parts in the generalarrangement in which they are to be assembled.

Fig. 2 is an assembled viewv of a metallic chassis of the presentinvention.

Referring now to the drawing, it may be seen thatthe receptacle of thepresent invention may be constructed of three types of pieces, each ofwhich maybe stacked separately for economyof space in storageorshipment. Thus, the specific illustrative embodiment de: picted in thedrawings is a metallicchassis for electronic equipment and includes aphantom showing of the -man ner of achievingcompartment-anonifelectrostatic-shielding or additional structural support; should bedesired: The chassis comprises a fiat rectangular sheet -metal piecel,comprising the top plate of the chassis (which for other general useswould comprise the bottom plate ofa receptacle), a pair of side walls2,each ofalength equalto a dimensionof the wall 1, and formed of sheetmetal formed in a U-configuration to, provide longitur dinal flanges 5,5 extending thefulllength'thereofland apair of lateral pieces 3formingrthe; end .walls ofgthe receptacle. Theend walls 3 are formed, ofrectangular,

' 'side walls or the end walls.

, pieces of sheet metal having'inturned flanges at all four edgesthereof. Thus, the longitudinal edges are, turned down to form flanges8, 8 as shown,'theside edges, be-

1 ing bent toforrn the flanges 7, 7. 'The dimensions of the end walls 3are sochosen that the flanges 7-, will closely. engage the inner wallsof side walls 2 and the flanges '8 will be in planar alignment with theflanges 5 when the side walls are properly attached to the edges of theflat plate 1.

It should be noted that if each of the flanges 7 and 8 described in thepreceding paragraph wereto extend the en tire length of end walls 3,said end walls could not be in-- serted betweenlthe side walls 2 withoutdistortion thereof,

which would result in lack of flatness of the resulting top and bottomflanges 5, 5 8, 8 and in lateral distortion of the ends of side wall 2.'fl'he gist of the present invention as previously stated, resides inthe provision of a particular j notch 6 in each of the corners of theend walls 3, whereby such walls can be fitted to the ends of the sidewalls, be-

tween said walls in a'manner to form level top and bottom flanges andstraight side wallsin theresulting receptacle. The notch 6 is formed byremoval of the ends of the longitudinal flanges 8 to a distance equal tothe thickness of the flanges 5 of the side. walls 2, and by theremoval'of a thin strip of material longitudinally of the end wall} atright angles to the edge of the resulting shortened flange 8 to form adepressed support surface 9'to receive the flanges 5 of the side wall 2.The depth of the surfa'ce '9 is determined 'by the thickness of thematerial and the nature of the bending used in forming the flange 8. r Aspace is thus formed at each of the corners of the end walls 3 intowhich the matching ends of the flanges 5 may be fitt ed withoutdistortion of either the,

assembled as described, a receptacle is formed, such receptacle having alevel, inwardly turned top flange and sides free from bulging or bowing.

The various pieces or'walls may be secured to one another in anysuitable manner. Thus, matching connecting openings, 11, may be formedin the mating surfaces of the' pieces and metal screws, nuts and boltsor other detachable fastening means may be utilized. One specific formof fastening is illustrated in the drawing wherein the inner walls offlanges intended to be disposed internally of the receptacle (as theflanges 5, 7 and 8) are provided with inwardly threaded bushings 10suitably supported,

as by riveting,'internally of the associated opening, asshown. ,When thepieces are assembled,'with the openings 11 of mating flanges propertly,machine screws are inserted'through the openings 11, and by engagementwith bushings 10, maintain the pieces in rigid assembly.

The methodof fabricating the pieces is not the subject 'matter of thisinvention and any suitable known metalknock-down receptacle arrangementdescribed in the preceding paragraphs has the further importantadvantage that the end walls 3', are of such configuration that theylmayalso be used as internal compartmentation walls, Thus, as shown in thedrawings, a panel 3 may be positioned internally of the receptacle to beformed, and

' by virtue ofthe notches 6, it will be positioned between the flangesSand the side walls of opposed side panels 2 Thus, when the pieces are,

any of the other walls and in which the compartment wall itself providesan upper flange level with that of the other walls. 7 V 1 From the aboveit way be seen that the present invention provides a novel knock-downreceptable which is sturdy and which has a top flange surface ,toadaptit for stacking or sliding arrangements and which is constructed of anumber of types of pieces and in which compartmentation may be effectedby use of a piece of exactly the type used-for an outer wall. 7 Itshould further be obvious that such receptacles when made of metallicpieces, are particularly adapted for use as chassis for electronicequipment. The pieces may be made in varieties of sizes to give a'wideselection of sizes and configurations of receptacles and such pieces maybe easily stacked for storage or transportation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the 7 presentinvention'are. possible in the light of the above teachings. It istherefore to be understood that the scope of the invention is to berestricted only by the scope and limitations ofthe appended claim andnot by the details of the single illustrative example specificallydescribed 7 hereinabove.

when the receptacle is assembled. For a given compartwith the bushings10 of the compartment wall. It should noted that 'such internalcompartmentationdoes not require a 'difierently fabricated piece and,results in a' structure'which does not cause or require deformation ofWhat is claimed is:

A knock-down metallic chassis for electronic equipment which permitsattachment of electronic components and the majority of electricalconnections to be made on substantially'flat sections prior to assemblyof said" chassis, comprising two side wall sections, twoend wallsections, a flat top plate and a flat bottom plate, said wall sectionsand plates forming a rectangular chassis, said side wall sections havelongitudinal edge flanges forming U-shaped channel sections of equalwidth for the entire length of said side wall sections, said end wallsections also having longitudinal edge flanges forming U- shaped channelsections of the same width as said side Wall sections, the longitudinaledge flanges of said end wall sections terminating short of the ends ofsaid end wall sections a distance equivalent to the width of thelongitudinal flanges of said sidewall sections, the ends of said endwall sections having inwardly directed flanges, the

shortened edge flanges of said end wall sections, accommodating thelongitudinal flanges of said side wall sections and the inwardlydirected flanges at the ends of said end wall sections being removablyattachable to the internal" surfaces anywhere along said sidewallsections, the shape of said end wall sections allowing them to bepositioned parallel to the ends of said chassis anywhere along, theinternal surfaces of said side walls and fastened thereto such thatadditional end wall sections can be used to form parallel compartmentsalong the length of said chassiswithout the necessity of changing thestructural shape of any wall section, at least one inner compartmentwall parallel to said end wall sections and of identical constructionand size as said end ,wall sections, said top and bottom plates beingsubstantially as wide as the length of said end sections andsubstantially as long as the length of said side sections and beingremovably attached to the longitudinal edge flanges of said side and endsections to form a rigid chassis construction.

References Cited in the file of this patent J UNITED STATES PATENTS

